Ahasuerus readeth of the

CHRIST

+ Heb. tree.

+ Heb. the king's sleep fled away.

| Or, Bigthan, chap. 2. 21. + Heb. threshold.

gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

5 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.

Before CHRIST about 510.

suerus.

3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's

enjoyment of all this prosperity is alloyed by the single circumstance of Mordecai's disrespect, which was made a source of misery by his own passions and imagination.

We may hence take occasion to observe, that the proud, the revengeful, the discontented, the unthankful, and impatient, are their own tormentors; whether God immediately execute his judgments on them or not, their own temper of mind is their punishment; that, on the other hand, the various natural passions and affections of the heart work together for good, through the Divine grace, to those who govern them rightly; that humility is a great source of happiness; that it is a joyful and pleasant thing to be thankful; and that it is for our benefit to receive cheerfully our appointed portion, having our desires and purposes resigned to the disposal of God, and ever praying that his will be done.

We may hence observe farther, that man's life consisteth not in the abundance of things that he possesseth; that happiness does not depend upon the outward appearance and condition of any person, and that the greatest earthly prosperity is not proof against vexation of spirit, since a small accident, and even an imaginary misfortune, may spoil the enjoyment of it; and that we can have no solid comfort in any state of life, if our mind be out of order, and if our heart be not right with God. For the foundation of all happiness is a wise and understanding heart, endued with the faith and fear of God. With this, through his grace, we shall know both "how to be abased, and how to abound ;" and shall learn "in whatsoever state we are, therewith to be content," Phil. iv. 11, 12. Theed, Dr. J. Balguy.

Chap. VI. ver. 1. On that night &c.] The revengeful

+ Heb. in

whose honour the king

↑ Heb.

bring the

8+ Let the royal apparel be brought delighteth. which the king useth to wear, and Let them the horse that the king rideth upon, royal apand the crown royal which is set upon Heb.

his head:

parel.

wherewith

the king

himself.

9 And let this apparel and horse clotheth be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they

projects of Haman were no sooner concerted, than they were followed by a wonderful turn of affairs, in which several instances of providential interference concurred towards the rescue of the innocent, and the mortification of this haughty and injurious man. Pyle.

The Scriptures relate many events brought to pass by means which seem disproportionate, unsuitable, and even contrary to the effect. Such events speak God to be their cause, his invisible power supplying the apparent defects in the means. Thus plots contrived in darkness, with all possible caution and secrecy, are by improbable means and unaccountable accidents disclosed and brought to light; "a bird of the air," as the wise man speaks, "telling the matter," or "the stone," according to the expression of the Prophet, "crying out of the wall." In the book of Esther we read, The king cannot sleep; to divert him, the chronicle is called for; Mordecai's service is there pitched upon, and enquiry made concerning his recompense; honour is decreed him; so the cruel device of Haman comes out, and he himself suffers. Whence can such events proceed but from the ever watchful care of Him, whose eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings? Dr. Isaac Barrow, Bp. Horne.

2. And it was found written, that Mordecai &c.] It was a singular interposition of Divine Providence, that among the voluminous registers of occurrences, afforded by the affairs of so many provinces, the reader should turn to that part in which Mordecai's service was recorded. Bps. Hall and Patrick.

The king ordereth

Before CHRIST

about 510.

Or, at the

presence of

+ Heb. with me.

Then Haman was afraid || before the king and the queen.

7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther Then said the king, Will he force the queen also + before me in

was.

Ill-deserving popularity doth in vain promise to itself a perpetuity of applause; if our ways be really evil, the time shall come when, after all vain flattery, after all our short-lived glory, our sins shall be drawn forth to light, and our iniquities laid before us, to our utter confusion. Bp. Hall.

8.- Haman was fallen upon the bed] It was the custom in those times to sit or lay upon beds, as they ate and drank, and Haman was now in the posture of a person who had fallen as a suppliant at the feet of Esther.

Then said the king, &c.] The king, finding him in this posture, interpreted his conduct as if he were so impudent as to take liberties with the queen's person in his own palace. Not that he could believe this was really the case, but, in his furious passion, he turned every thing to the worst sense, and made use of it to aggravate Haman's crime. Bp. Patrick.

- they covered Haman's face.] It was the custom so to cover the faces of condemned criminals: a custom also found among the ancient Romans, both in their punishment of a parricide, who, when convicted, was immediately hooded, as unworthy of the common light; and in that form of pronouncing sentence on a criminal ascribed by Livy to Tullus Hostilius: Go, officer, bind his hands, veil his head, hang him on the fatal tree." This custom was noticed in Egypt by Dr. Pococke, who speaks of a man brought before the Bey, like a malefactor, with his hands behind him as if tied, and a napkin put over his head, as malefactors commonly have. Parkhurst, Harmer.

9.-the gallows] In the margin, "the tree." Crucifixion appears to have been the punishment inflicted by Ahasuerus upon Haman. Polycrates of Samos, Cicero tells us, was crucified by order of Oroetes, prætor of Darius. One of the capital punishments in Abyssinia is the cross. Bruce.

- Hang him thereon.] Thus, within the compass of a day, Haman's fortune was completely reversed: but a few hours after he imagined his success most certain, this sentence of condemnation was pronounced upon him. Thus also we find many instances in holy Scripture in which the security of the wicked is suddenly disturbed by the Divine summons: "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee," Luke xii. 20. Bp. Andrewes.

When iniquitous enterprises, managed by subtilty or violence, are suddenly and seasonably defeated, then the ever-vigilant Eye, and the all-powerful Hand, are concerned. God doth ever see the deceitful workers of iniquity, though they devise their wickedness in secret. He often doth suffer it to grow on to a pitch of matu

Haman to be hanged.

Before CHRIST

the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Ha- about 510. man's face.

9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits + Heb. free. high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.

10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

rity, till it be thoroughly formed, till it be ready to break forth in fearful effects; then in a moment He crusheth it to nothing. God beholdeth unjust men setting out in their designs; He letteth them proceed in full career till they are reaching the object of their wishes; then instantly He checketh, He turneth them back, He overthroweth them. Thus was Haman's plot confounded, when he had procured a royal decree, when he had fixed a time, when he had issued forth letters to destroy the people of God. Thus was Pharaoh overwhelmed when he had just overtaken the children of Israel. Thus perished the designs of Abimelech, of Absalom, of Adonijah, of Sanballat. Thus, when Sennacherib had encamped against Jerusalem with a mighty host, and to all appearance had the city in his power, the Lord did put a hook in his nose, and turned him back into his own land. Almighty God could prevent the very beginning of wicked designs, or could subvert them in any stage of their progress; but He rather winketh for a time at their success, and suffereth the designers to go on till they are elevated to the height of confidence, and till the good are on the brink of ruin: then surprisingly He striketh in with effectual succour: thus declaring how vain is the presumption of the ungodly, how needful and how certain is his protection over his good and faithful servants; how much reason the one hath to dread Him, and the other to confide in Him. Dr. Isaac Barrow.

10.—on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.] That same instrument, which he had reared on high for Mordecai's destruction, is appointed by Providence for his own; and his shame and punishment are rendered as conspicuous as his former honour and prosperity. Dr. J. Balguy, Bp. Hall.

In Abyssinia, when the prisoner is condemned in capital cases, he is not again remitted to prison, but is immediately carried away, and the sentence executed upon him. Among other instances of this, Abba Salama was condemned by the king the morning he entered Gondar, on his return from Tigre, and immediately hanged, in the garment of a priest, on a tree at the door of the king's palace. The same was the practice in Persia, as we learn from Xenophon, and more plainly from Diodorus. Bruce.

In that deliverance of the Jews from Haman's conspiracy, there is no extraordinary manifestation of God's power; no particular cause or agent was in its working advanced above the ordinary pitch of nature; and yet the contrivance or suiting of these ordinary agents appointed by God, is more admirable than if the same end had been effected by means truly miraculous. For a king not to take kindly rest by night, though in a bed

Mordecai is advanced.

Before CHRIST about 510.

+ Heb. and besought him.

she wept, and

CHAP. VIII.

1 Mordecai is advanced. 3 Esther maketh

Ahasuerus granteth to the Jews

Before CHRIST

erus granteth to the Jews to defend themselves. 15 Mordecai's honour, and the Jews' joy.

ON

N that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.

6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, 5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his

of ease, is not unusual; for a king again to seek to solace his waking thoughts by hearing the annals of his kingdom, is more commendable than rare: but that king Ahasuerus should lie awake at that time, specially when Haman did watch and plot the destruction of the Jews; that, causing the chronicles of his kingdom to be read, the reader should light on the place wherein was recorded Mordecai's unrewarded good service, in discovering the treason intended against the king's person; this was from the Keeper of Israel, who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth, and who was marvellous in his people's sight.

It was his doing, likewise, that Esther, by Mordecai's advice, should conceal her nation and parentage until she came in such high favour with the king; that queen Vashti should be displaced, and Esther preferred, about the same time wherein Haman was advanced, and by his advancement enabled to do a remediless mischief to the Jewish nation, if the Lord had not, as the wise man speaks, "made one thing against another." Dr. Jackson.

As miracles display the infinite power of God, so his direction of human affairs exhibits his infinite wisdom, and proves the subordination of all the several ranks of creatures, with whatsoever strength or efficacy they be endowed, to his providence. In wisdom He made them all in wisdom He marshalleth, He ordereth them all. Dr. Jackson.

The succession of events which led to the deliverance of the Jews from Haman, shew that the providence of God may be at work where men least suppose it; that He in his infinite wisdom makes unlikely accidents subservient to his ends; and that the minute parts of his dispensations may not always afford sufficient ground

a

9 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred

Or, who wrote.

Heb. be may see.

able that I

a See chap. 1. 19.

for our limited faculties to estimate the great purposes of his will. Bp. Hall.

Chap. VIII. ver. 1.- the house of Haman] That is, the whole estate which Haman had possessed; his dwelling, lands, cattle, goods, and treasure. Bp. Patrick.

- what he was unto her.] That is, Esther had made known to the king how Mordecai was related to her. Dean Prideaux.

2.-took off his ring,—and gave it unto Mordecai.] The king made Mordecai the keeper of his seal, in the same manner as Haman had been before. Dean Prideaux.

The bearing of a seal is a token of an high office, either by succession or deputation. Thus in Gen. xli. 42, Pharaoh, setting Joseph over the whole_land_of Egypt, gives him his ring; that is, his seal, as Josephus the historian explains it. Antiochus, declaring his son successor in his kingdom, sends him "the crown, and his robe, and his signet," 1 Mac. vi. 14, 15. Thus in Aristophanes, the taking away of the ring signifies the discharging of a chief magistrate: and a little after, the giving of a ring to another is the making another steward or chief magistrate, by delivering to him the badge of his office. To these instances it may be added, that, in our own nation, the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and other high officers of state, are appointed by the King delivering to them the seals of their respective offices. Parkhurst.

Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.] Esther appointed Mordecai to conduct for her the affairs relating to Haman's estate. Dean Prideaux.

9. - in the third month, &c.] That is, a little more than two months after the former decree. Bp. Patrick,

to defend themselves.

Before CHRIST about 510.

+ Heb.

revealed.

twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus's name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

They slay their enemies.

Before CHRIST

great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and about 510. the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

CHAP. IX.

1 The Jews (the rulers, for fear of Mordecai, helping them) slay their enemies, with the ten sons of Haman. 12 Ahasuerus, at the request of Esther, granteth another day of slaughter, and Haman's sons to be hanged. 20 The two days of Purim are made festival.

13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

15 ¶ And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apOr, violet. parel of || blue and white, and with a

11. Wherein the king granted the Jews-to stand for their life,] The decree procured by Haman against the Jews being by an unreasonable custom irreversible, all that the king could do, in compliance with Esther's request, was to give the Jews, by a new decree, such a power to defend themselves as might render the former decree ineffectual. Dean Prideaux.

12. upon the thirteenth day &c.] The very day appointed by Haman for their destruction.

15. in royal apparel] See the note on Dan. v. 7. — a great crown of gold,] Not a royal crown, but such an one as was worn by the highest princes of Persia. Bp. Patrick.

16. The Jews had light,] Light is often figuratively applied in Scripture to denote prosperity. Bp. Lowth.

The eyes of the Lord are ever upon his church, and though He sometimes suffer it to be brought into tribulation, yet He hath promised concerning it, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn," Isa. liv. 17. Bp. Horne.

-

17. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.] When

is, teenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them ;)

2 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

3 And all the rulers of the pro

Haman's conspiracy was defeated, and the destruction designed against the Jews was, by a wonderful chain of providences, turned upon their enemies, it is said that

66

many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them." Their enemies, though heathens, saw plainly, from what had happened, that the Jews had more than ordinary favour shewed them from heaven, and from thence inferred that their laws and religion must needs be more acceptable there than any other; and therefore left their own for theirs, and became Jews themselves that they might partake of the same privileges and favours with them. Bp. Beveridge.

The dispersion of the Jews throughout the numerous provinces of the Babylonian and Persian empires, became providentially the means of publishing the true religion among the people with whom they were intermixed. Being often eminently distinguished by the royal favour, they were enabled to convey a knowledge of the truth with greater advantage: the evident interpositions of God in the cause of his people also raising exalted sentiments of his religion. Dr. Owen.